C—4

55

large quantities of white-pine piping, which is, after being tarred, used for the water-supply of Hokitika, and also for piping in connection with the Otira Tunnel. Branches used for firewood. M. D. F. Dennehey, an expert, is of opinion that this timber would suit admirably for the manufacture of pulp for paper-making. Saplings used as flag-staffs and scaffold-poles, shear-legs, props, &c, for temporary use. Used in coal-mines for much temporary work, where durability is not a consideration. As noted above, there are two varieties of white-pine—viz., " white heart " and " yellow heart." The former is wholly discarded ; it rots quickly, and is now never used for inside fittings of houses, as the borergrub rapidly destroys it; in Australia it is free from the grub, and is much esteemed. The "yellow heart," from mature well-grown trees, is much esteemed for its lasting qualities. 27. Miro toromiro.— Grows only on the low lands throughout the district. Never found as a distinct forest, but grows as single trees plentifully amongst other timber. Is extensively milled. Wood holds fair quantity of turpentine. Average diameter, 2 ft. ; barrel, 20 ft. ; maximum diameter, 3 ft. 6 in. ; barrel, 35 ft. Used for inside fittings of houses ; also the heart for repairs to small bridges. Exudes a gum plentifully, which is much used and esteemed by settlers, miners, and bushmen for cuts, bruises, and frost cracks ; very cleansing. Fair firewood. Grows a large berry, which fattens the native pigeon. Makes first-class false keels for boats, as it does not scrub up, but preserves a smooth surface. Not reckoned a durable wood. Only used for firewood by settlers and miners. 28. Tanekaha.— Grows throughout the district. Usually found on skirts of and intermixed with silver-pine forest; also grows very plentifully as a seedling and sapling amongst young silver-pines in swampy ground. Has been found (stunted) on mountain spurs, 2,000 ft. up. It is full of tar, and is very tough wood. Average size, 6 in. ; barrel, 15 ft. ; maximum diameter, 1 ft. ; barrel, 40 ft. It is good lasting wood, but is not much used. Makes good tool-handles ; and the bark excellent for tanning fishing-nets, tents, &c. 30. Mountain Toatoa.— Cannot identify this timber as growing in Westland. 31. Tawhai rauriki (Mountain-beech). —A very infrequent.timber in the Westland District, and only occurs in a few places on the Upper Grey, Ahaura, and Teremakau Valleys. Flourishes on dry gravelly soil on the valley-flats, where it is found of greater size ; and again on the spurs and ridges, where it is dwarfed. It is essentially a mountain timber, and frequently grows right up to the " grassline," 3,000 ft. and 4,000 ft. above sea-level. Large trees usually have short trunks, which divide into massive branches. It is often much intermixed with Fagus Menziesii. Range, from 1,800 ft. to 4,000 ft. above sea-level. Average size, 1 ft. ; barrel, 20 ft. : maximum diameter, 2 ft. ; barrel, 30 ft. It is principally used as firewood. It is a very poor-lasting wood. 32. Tawhai (Silver-beech).—Occurs on the Paparoa Range, and the mountain faces and valleys of the upper watersheds of the Grey, Ahaura, Crooked, and Teremakau Rivers, but not between the latter river and the Mahitahi; thence from this stream right down to Big Bay. Chiefly a mountain timber, which, over the areas noted, constitutes the main forest, and occupies the whole country right up to the " grass-line," about 3,500 ft. above sea-level, the exceptions being the timber on Jackson Head, Smooth water, and Lower Arawata Valley, where very old mature forests exist. Very handsome trees when growing in the open. Seedlings very profuse if given air and sunshine. Average diameter, 3 ft, ; barrel, 40 ft. : maximum diameter, 5 ft. ; barrel, 30 ft. Used for rough stables, sheds, &c, and as fencing-posts ; also as firewood. Not esteemed in Westland as a milling-timber. Wood easily worked. Very poor lasting qualities as an immature timber, but has an excellent character whentaken from old trees. 34. Hinau. —Northern boundary down to Smoothwater River. Grows mainly adjacent to seacoast, but odd trees also found a few miles inland. Only occurs as isolated trees. Plenty of seedlings and saplings. Average diameter, 3 ft. ; barrel, 15 ft. : maximum diameter, 4 ft. 6 in. ; barrel, 25 ft. Only milled in Westland for tramway rails, for which purpose it is well adapted, wearing smooth and lasting well. Settlers make little use of it. Good for dray-back pieces, as it does not chafe ; and for timbering shafts and tunnels, as the caps made of it only bend, and do not break short. Have known tram-rails in position for fourteen years, and still sound. 38. Titoki, Tokitoki. —One or two stunted trees of this variety at Pakorari, in the extreme north of the district, but it does not occur elsewhere. 43. Towhai, or Kamahi. —This is found throughout the district, from the seaboard up to 2,500 ft. above sea-level, right into the heart of the mountains. It is intermixed with every other variety of timber growing below the 2,800 ft. level. The most widely distributed timber, and of the largest quantity, in Westland, becoming dwarfed as it ascends the mountains. Locally divided into two qualities —white and red. These refer to the colour of the wood ; no difference in the leaf ; the bark of the white is a thin bark, silvery in appearance, while that of the red is thicker, and of a dark-brown tint; the white grows taller and straighter than the red, but they are completely intermixed as to location ; the white is much softer and more easily worked than the red, the latter is a tough strong timber, White-wooded variety : Average diameter, 1 ft. 6 in. ; barrel, 30 ft. : Maximum diameter, 2 ft. ; barrel, 40 ft. Red-wooded variety : Average diameter, 2 ft. 6 in. ; barrel, 20 ft. : maximum diameter, 4 ft. ; barrel, 20 ft. Never milled in Westland. Used for props for tunnels in mines, and fencing. Good firewood. Bark of the redwood extensively used for tanning. Red-wooded variety lasts better than the white, the latter not being in favour. Posts last six to seven years, and rot at ground-surface. (Note. —The full height of these timbers are given.) . Horopito.— This variety of horopito is to be found throughout Westland. Grows chiefly in the low lands, but scattered strips are to be found inland up to 1,000 ft. above sea-level. Attains a height of 20 ft. Uusually scattered throughout the bush, but in many localities is met with by itself in considerable areas. Sometimes used for head-ache ; the leaves taste intensely hot and pungent, but after swallowing the mouth becomes cool, Maoris chew the leaves, and apply the pulp as a poultice for